Chief Rugby League Reporter

The Abbott government will consider legal action to recoup more than $40 million wasted on Australia's futile bid to host the 2022 soccer World Cup, won by oil-rich Qatar on the back of alleged widespread bribery.

Federal Minister for Sport Peter Dutton said the government would ''consider options'' in returning taxpayer funds after allegations that Qatari officials showered cash on FIFA officials to secure votes for the right to host the World Cup, which it won in a landslide.

Australia polled just one vote.

FFA chairman Frank Lowy has demanded FIFA return the bid money to Australia, while former Soccer Australia boss David Hill has labelled the federal government ''mad'' to risk public funds ''when everybody knew the [bid] process was crook''.

Advertisement

Qatar's apparent foul play has become a topic of concern in Canberra. Jane Halton, the secretary of the Department of Health (of which Mr Dutton is also minister), agreed in a Senate hearing that the FIFA-run process was ''crooked''.

Ms Halton was questioned by independent senator Nick Xenophon on the $42.25 million the government contributed to the failed bid overseen by FFA.

''Given that the bidding process appears to have been deeply tainted and that Australia appears not to have had a sporting chance of succeeding in its bid, is the Australian government proposing to approach FIFA about a refund?'' Senator Xenophon asked Ms Halton. ''The whole process seems to have been pretty crooked to me.''

''I do not disagree with you,'' said Ms Halton, before saying any legal recourse was a question for the minister.

Mr Dutton said the government would first wait for the results of FIFA's independent investigation into the allegations against Qatar and its officials who may have pocketed up to $US5 million in cash and lavish gifts from former FIFA vice-president Mohammed bin Hammam.

''I think it's one step at a time, and the first step is to wait and see what happens in the process; wait and see what the world body does. And then I think we can consider options,'' Mr Dutton said.

On Thursday, Senator Xenophon said: ''We never had a chance. Australian taxpayers were ripped off and Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA should hang his head in shame that the bid has not yet been re-opened.''

Speaking to reporters in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Wednesday, Lowy said Australia's support for Blatter hinged on his response to the report into corruption claims conducted by FIFA's chief investigator, Michael Garcia.

''Really, it will depend on what this report is and what is done about that,'' he said.

''The governance has to improve a lot. In my opinion, I think the reputation issues of FIFA will be determined by the steps they take for governance and what the report from Garcia will be.''